Manchester City are preparing an offer to sign Lionel Messi in the January transfer window - according to reports.
Messi, 33, dropped a bombshell in the summer by requesting a transfer in the wake of a disappointing season which ended with a 8-2 thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.
MEN Sport understand City were interested in signing the Argentine superstar but Barcelona were unwilling to part ways with their star forward for anything less than his £672m release clause. When La Liga confirmed his release clause would not be voided, Messi reluctantly agreed to stay but is out of contract next summer.
Spanish outlet Deportes Cuatro report Messi has not forgotten about the idea of leaving Barcelona and will only sign a new contract if he is convinced of a winning project at the Nou Camp.
The report adds that Manchester City are willing to negotiate a deal for him in the coming weeks given Messi could sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club in the January transfer window.
Barcelona presidential frontrunner Victor Font stated last month that he hoped to bring Pep Guardiola back to the club in order to keep Messi happy but the City boss responded with multiple statements confirming he would not return to his boyhood club.
Elsewhere, City have been named as one of three clubs chasing Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram.
Thuram has impressed in the Bundesliga since joining from Guingamp last summer, scoring 14 goals in 39 games last season.
The 23-year-old has scored three goals and registered five assists in just ten games this season which has prompted interest from City, Barcelona and Juventus according to Bild.
His agent, Mino Raiola, is understood to be weighing up his client's next move and the financial ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic could force Monchengladbach to sell their star forward.
